Tradition and Magic at the Grand Opening of Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa
posted on September 23rd, 2011 by Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Last night, in a ceremony filled with Hawaiian tradition and Disney magic, Bob Iger and I had the privilege of officially opening Aulani, our new resort and spa on Oahu. We shared the stage with dozens of Hawaiian performers, scores of Aulani cast members and of course, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, to celebrate another milestone in the incredible story of Aulani.
With invited guests, local Hawaiian officials and members of the media in the audience, the Grand Opening Ceremony took place on the beach of Aulani’s lagoon with the resort itself serving as the backdrop. It opened with an “oli pale,” a Hawaiian blessing, which was followed by a powerful performance by drummers, dancers and singers, including Keali’i Reichel, one of Hawai`i’s most popular artists who wrote a beautiful chant specifically for Aulani.
Then came time for the official dedication of the resort so Mickey and Minnie joined Bob and me onstage to do the honors. To symbolize the joining of the Hawaiian culture and the magic of Disney, we placed some sand from our beach into an ‘umeke, a ceremonial wooden bowl, and mixed it with – what else – some pixie dust.
From the very beginning we have committed ourselves to ensuring that Aulani embraces and celebrates the unique Hawaiian culture and traditions. We are grateful for the warm welcome we have received from the local community and I’d like to thank the Imagineers, cast members, construction teams, local artists and everyone who had a hand in bringing Aulani to life. Their passion, commitment and talent can be seen in every detail of this spectacular resort and I can’t wait for our guests from around the world to experience it themselves.
Answering Your Questions About AVATAR at Disney Parks
posted on September 20th, 2011 by Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
I’d like to thank all of the Disney Parks Blog followers who left comments or sent in questions regarding our AVATAR announcement today. We got a lot of great questions and while I won’t be able to answer all of them, I’ll do my best to get to as many as possible.
1) TIMING
We got quite a few questions about the timing of our first AVATAR experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including this one from Adam, “Any idea when the experience will be open to guests?”
We’ve just begun the design phase on our Animal Kingdom project and we expect to begin construction in 2013. From start to finish, a project of this size and scope takes about 5 years to design and build. We can’t give you an exact date but we know that when it’s complete, it’s going to be a truly unforgettable experience.
2) IS THIS A PARK EXPANSION OR WILL “LAND” REPLACE SOMETHING?
Several of you asked a similar question, including Doug from Utah – “Will it replace any existing attractions in Animal Kingdom, or will it be built in a new parcel of land within the park’s boundaries?”
Well, Doug, we’re just beginning the Blue Sky process so I don’t have much to share about how we are going to execute our vision for our first AVATAR land but we’re focused on this being an important addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I look forward to sharing more details as our plans progress.
3) SPECIFIC ATTRACTIONS
Jenna from Winnetka, Ill., asks, “What types of attractions will be in AVATAR land?”
This was hands-down one of the most popular questions we got and understandably so. While we’re still in the very early stages of design and planning, we expect this land to be anchored by multiple attractions, entertainment, merchandise locations, restaurants and other immersive elements. Our AVATAR lands will give guests the chance to see, hear and touch the world of Pandora and we can’t wait to dive in with James Cameron and his team as we create new experiences that will delight and thrill our guests.
4) FILM IS PG-13, HOW DOES THIS MATCH W/FAMILY-FRIENDLY PARK?
Some of you, including Logan in Carnesville, Ga., asked about whether AVATAR was a good fit for a family-friendly brand like Disney.
Thanks, Logan, I appreciate your candor in asking this question. At its core, AVATAR is a film that embraces strong, positive themes of family, loyalty, living in harmony with nature and belief in oneself – all values that we share at The Walt Disney Company. You can be sure that these are the same themes that we will explore throughout our AVATAR lands. They will be places where friends and families can spend time together getting lost in a fantasy world, one of the true hallmarks of any Disney theme park experience. And with two sequels in the works, we feel this is a creative property whose potential is limitless.
5) AVATAR AT OTHER DISNEY PARKS?
We got several questions about whether there will be AVATAR experiences in parks/sites other than Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Kyle from Ontario asks, “Are there plans to add Avatar attractions at any other Disney parks?”
Well, Kyle, the only land we are announcing today is at Walt Disney World Resort but AVATAR is a possibility at any of our other locations. The first film AVATAR is a franchise with massive global appeal and its success at the box office both inside and outside of the U.S. – I should also note that as we determine our future locations, we look forward to working with our international theme park partners as our plans evolve.
6) ATTRACTION THEMING
Many of you, including Justin from Orlando, want to know, “How does AVATAR fit in with the Disney theme?” and more specifically, how does it fit in with the Animal Kingdom?
As I mentioned in a previous answer, AVATAR is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. With its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures and strong themes of family and loyalty, it’s a great fit for the Disney brand and our parks.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the perfect place for our first AVATAR land because at its core, the park gives guests the opportunity to experience the worlds of animals and nature – real and mythical – in whole new ways. With AVATAR, we’ve found the perfect opportunity to let our guests explore one of the most compelling mythical worlds ever conceived. Animal Kingdom also celebrates adventure, living in harmony with nature and environmental stewardship – themes that are deeply rooted in the story of AVATAR.
7) WHY BUY SOMEONE ELSE’S IDEA INSTEAD OF LETTING WDI COME UP WITH SOMETHING?
Some of you asked why we would choose to collaborate with an outside partner rather than use our own Disney characters and stories to expand the parks. We are as committed as ever to creating attractions and entertainment around favorite Disney characters and stories – with Cars Land at Disney California Adventure park and our expansion of Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park being two great examples. At the same time, we like to look beyond our own walls at non-Disney properties, like STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES, creating some of our most popular attractions. At the end of the day, we are focused on creating a great experience for our guests and I truly believe that this unique partnership with James Cameron and AVATAR gives us an entire world of imaginative creatures, fascinating locations and intriguing characters with which to do that.
Special Thanks to D23 Expo Attendees
posted on August 19th, 2011 by Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Thanks to all of you for your responses. Your passion, energy and affection for our parks and resorts is the reason we do what we do so I appreciate your feedback. I know many of you were hoping for announcements regarding new projects from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, especially at Walt Disney World Resort, so I wanted to take a moment to address those comments.
The projects we’ve already announced represent the largest period of growth ever in Disney Parks’ history. We’re working hard to create new and exciting experiences for our guests around the world and while the timing isn’t always right to announce another big project, we like to use opportunities like the D23 Expo to update fans like you on the great progress we’re making. We have several incredible projects currently in the works and look forward to sharing more information with all of you in the weeks and months ahead, including new details regarding Downtown Disney in Florida.
Greetings from the D23 Expo! Earlier today I shared the Anaheim Convention Center stage with Disneyland President George Kalogridis and some of our senior Imagineers for a behind-the-scenes look at several of the incredible projects currently underway at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. As many of you know, we are in the middle of the largest expansion period in our history so while we didn’t have time to talk about everything, we were able to update some of our biggest fans with the latest news from Walt Disney World, Shanghai Disney Resort, Aulani and Disneyland Resort.
For the D23 members who were able to attend the show, I want to thank you for the incredibly warm welcome that our team received. If you weren’t able to make it, we hope you enjoy the highlights from the presentation posted here on the Disney Parks blog.
It’s a Soundsational Summer at the Disneyland Resort
posted on June 3rd, 2011 by Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Combining great storytelling with the latest technology has been a hallmark of The Walt Disney Company from the very beginning, and that spirit continues with the opening of two fantastic new attractions at the Disneyland Resort. Over the last two days, we officially launched Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at Disneyland park and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure park.
The force is now strong with us on both coasts as Star Tours opened at Disneyland park this week and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando just a few weeks ago. Working closely with our partners at Lucasfilm, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue combines the latest in digital 3D technology with new characters and locales from all six of the Star Wars films. With more than 50 different story combinations, guests will never know just where the Force may take them. I’ve ridden in it a dozen times already and have yet to experience the same ride twice.
With the addition of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Disney California Adventure park continues to generate new energy as we take another big step forward in our expansion of the park. This all-new attraction mixes the latest Audio-Animatronics technology with classic Disney storytelling to bring the undersea world of Ariel, Sebastian and Flounder to life like never before. And we will see another Little Mermaid-themed attraction at Magic Kingdom Park in a few years when our Fantasyland expansion at Walt Disney World Resort is complete.
Of course, if you’ve been to Disney California Adventure park lately, you’ve seen that we have a lot more still in the works. From the newly imagined entry point of Buena Vista Street to the stunning new Cars Land, all of our teams are hard at work as we head into the home stretch of our multi-year expansion effort.
As if all of this weren’t enough, last week we premiered “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade,” an all-new parade at Disneyland Resort that is proving to be another great addition to the resort’s live entertainment offerings.
So whether you choose to hop in a Starspeeder 1000 and head for the stars, take a journey to “fathoms below” or just sit on a curb and watch the parade go by, there truly is something for everyone at the Disneyland Resort this summer. I’m tremendously proud of all of the Imagineers and cast members who have worked so hard to make these new experiences a reality and can’t wait for all of you to have a chance to enjoy them.
Yo ho! Yo ho! A Pirate’s Night For Me
posted on May 9th, 2011 by Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
It was a fantastic time at Disneyland Resort as we helped host the premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” It’s very exciting to welcome our friends from the Walt Disney Studios back to Disneyland to show off their latest film. I’m not going to spoil it for you, but I am confident you’re going to love it!
I’d like to congratulate and thank all of the people from the studios and our parks who organized the event. It was a huge success in every way. It’s also great to see Jack Sparrow back on the big screen for another wild adventure. (My mistake…I meant to say, Captain Jack Sparrow).
This is the fourth time the studios and Disney Parks have celebrated a new “Pirates of the Caribbean” film. Having been to all of them, I think this was the best premiere yet. One of my favorite moments of the evening was seeing all of the fans and guests cheering as the stars of the film walked the carpet. This is really a unique event for our guests and they, in turn, add tremendous energy and excitement to the whole evening. I can see why the studios team keeps coming back – and we’re happy to have them!
Breaking Ground on Shanghai Disney Resort
posted on April 7th, 2011 by Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
I’m writing to you from Shanghai where Bob Iger and I are just about to take the stage for a very special ceremony. In just a few minutes we will officially break ground on the Shanghai Disney Resort.
This is truly a defining moment in our company’s history. We will now begin construction on this exciting new site and cause our creative concepts to leap from the drawing boards and become a wonderful new resort where friends and families can visit and play and create memories that they’ll never forget.
With Shanghai Disney Resort, we have the chance to introduce the Disney Parks experience to an entirely new group of guests. Scheduled to open in about five years, our new resort in Shanghai will include things that you know and love about a Disney theme park such as Disney characters, attractions and storytelling… but it will also feature all-new experiences and stories that were inspired by and created for the people of China. The best way to describe this new resort is authentically Disney, yet distinctly Chinese.
Shanghai Disneyland will be the name of the theme park itself, but the property will also have two themed hotels, a venue for retail, dining and entertainment, a wonderful sparkling lagoon and some outdoor recreation areas.
We look forward to sharing more details with you right here on the Disney Parks Blog. Until then, I would like to thank everyone from both Disney and the Shanghai Shendi Group who have worked so tirelessly to make the dream of building a Disney resort in Shanghai a reality.
An Amazing Disney Dream Christening Ceremony
posted on January 19th, 2011 by Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Since becoming chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts over a year ago, I’ve had many amazing experiences but today may have topped them all – after all, it’s not every day you get to christen a cruise ship.
Today, with an enormous crowd of well-wishers looking on, we welcomed the stunning Disney Dream to the Disney Cruise Line fleet at Port Canaveral in Florida. In a manner befitting a ship of its size and grandeur, we pulled out all of the stops for this maritime tradition with a spectacular show at the Disney Cruise Line Terminal with classic Disney music, dancers, fireworks and, of course, a host of our beloved Disney characters.
Disney president and CEO Bob Iger and Disney’s “dream girl” Jennifer Hudson, the ship’s fairy godmother, were on hand to do the honors and christen the Disney Dream. Jennifer began her phenomenal career on the Disney Wonder back in 2003, so it was only fitting that this award-winning artist be selected as godmother of the Disney Dream.
With the addition of the Disney Dream to the Disney Cruise Line family, we’ll now be able to help more guests create even more unforgettable Disney memories on the high seas. Both the Disney Dream and her sister ship, the Disney Fantasy, coming in 2012, boast a gross tonnage of 130,000 and will be able to carry up to 4,000 passengers. Our two new ships combine the very best in innovation, technology, artistry and the legendary attention to detail that makes a Disney experience so unique.
The christening of the Disney Dream is the culmination of a journey that began years ago. The journey then took us to Germany where the ship was built, across the Atlantic where it was tested and finally to Port Canaveral, where it will live and delight guests of all ages for decades to come. Congratulations to the thousands of Imagineers, craftsmen, designers, artists and crew who have worked so hard to make this Dream a reality.
As importantly, the Disney Dream is yet another great example of what is possible when our people set out with one objective in mind: to create something of the highest quality, something designed to surprise and delight our guests, something special in every sense of the word… in short, something truly Disney.
Aloha from O‘ahu! I’m at the site of one of our most unique, new projects – Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i. The team in Hawai‘i continues to bring this beautiful beachfront property to life, and it’s exciting that in just a little more than a year, on August 29, 2011, we’re scheduled to welcome our first guests here.
Construction is well underway, and as I walked the site yesterday, the great potential for the combination of the location and Disney creativity couldn’t be more clear.
Aulani is something completely new and different for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. It is our first stand-alone Resort, separate from our theme parks that will offer both hotel rooms and villas for Disney Vacation Club members. As we’ve expanded “beyond the berm” with offerings like Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney, our goal has been to bring Disney vacation experiences to our guests. And since Hawai‘i is one of the top family destinations in the world, we always knew that this would be the perfect place for a Disney Resort.
Aulani will be a destination where families can experience the stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and friendship of Hawai‘i—in a setting only Disney could create. Much more than a place to stay, it will be a place to start—a home base from which our guests can explore all that Hawai‘i has to offer.
The culture of Hawai‘i is rooted in layer-upon-layer of meaning, ancestral heritage and a rich storytelling tradition. Obviously, storytelling is something we hold near and dear here at Disney, too. So, together with our Hawaiian advisors, we are collecting stories, legends and symbols, and weaving them into the design of Aulani. Local artists are creating giant murals that surround the resort. For example, the work of one of those artists, Harinane Orme, tells the stories of Maui and Hina, and of the great tradition of star navigation that brought the Hawaiians to this land.
There is so much creativity and passion going into the development of this new Resort. I’m excited to bring my family here and think our guests will be too.
A Spectacular Opening Night
posted on June 11th, 2010 by Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Talk about creating magical memories! The premiere of ‘World of Color‘ last night was one of those great Disney moments that I will remember for a lifetime. It was a thrill to see the look on the faces of our Guests (including my wife and boys) as Paradise Bay was transformed into a rainbow symphony of our best Disney music, animation and stunning water effects. It’s a show unlike any other, and it represents the finest of what makes Disney, Disney.
Of course, it takes a whole lot to create a show as big as ‘World of Color.’ This spectacular is the result of a great collaborative effort that has drawn on every part of The Walt Disney Company. Making magic requires teamwork, and I’m honored to be working with such talented teammates.
‘World of Color’ is the quintessential Disney celebration-one that builds on Walt’s legacy of using creativity, technology and innovation to bring our most beloved characters and stories to life in a whole new way. And I think it’s a satisfying first taste of what’s to come at Disney California Adventure and at our parks and resorts around the world. We’ve got a pretty amazing lineup of new experiences opening over the next few years: Our “Little Mermaid” attraction and “Cars Land” at Disney California Adventure park; two new Disney cruise ships; a new stand-alone resort in Hawaii; and major expansions of Hong Kong Disneyland and Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.
We’ll be giving you updates here on the Disney Parks blog as these projects progress, so stay tuned. And enjoy ‘World of Color.’
